Srinagar's Mufti Bashir-u-Din, who had issued a fatwa against an all-girl music band, is not new to controversies. In the past two years, his two fatwas even infuriated separatists and they accused him of being acting on behest of the government - the charge he always rejects and ridicules.

In January last year, the Mufti headed Sharia Court of Kashmir ordered expulsion of four Christian missionaries from the Valley on charges of proselytism and forced conversions to Christianity.

Hurriyat Conference rejected the charges and described the mufti as working against interests of Kashmir and stop expulsion of missionaries.

In September last year, he asked all Americans to leave Kashmir after an anti-Islam video surfaced somewhere in Europe. Separatists again stepped in and condemned him.

But this time some separatist groups and the mufti seem to be on the same page on the issue of all-girl band of Kashmir. Surprisingly it is moderate separatists, who are not opposing mufti. Instead, they speak almost in same language.

"We are for Sufi music. But I don't think we should ape the West and its pop culture. We appeal to parents of both boys and girls that they should maintain cultural ethos," said, Hurriyat moderate spokesman, Shahidul-Islam.

The largest religious-political organsation, Jamaat Islami also sided with Mufti. Jamaat said that Islam prohibits every immodest activity including dancing and dancing of women before men. Jamaat said these girls should desist from "immoral activity."

"The girls and their parents who participated in Pragaash musical band should desist from such immoral activities in future," the Jamaat spokesman added.

Mufti Bashir-u-Din traces history of his Sharia Court to Mughal emperor Akbar. He says it was established in 1571 AD during the rule of Akbar.

His ancestors, he says, came from Saudi Arabia and then settled in Delhi and other places during Mughal period. "They have been occupying top posts including that of chief justice," he added.

But historians here say there is no history of Islamic Sharia court.

"There is no history of having Chief Justice of Sharia Court in Kashmir. We only have the seat of mufti azam (grand priest) who would issue riwayat (religious backdrop of issues) and to settle mutual local family matters," said Saleem Beg, who heads Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage.

"He has no mandate to issue fatwas and no one takes him seriously," he said.

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